BASS VIOL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bass viol mean? 

• BASS VIOL (noun)
  The noun BASS VIOL has 2 senses:

1. viol that is the bass member of the viol family with approximately the range of the cello

2. largest and lowest member of the violin family

  Familiarity information: BASS VIOL used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BASS VIOL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Viol that is the bass member of the viol family with approximately the range of the cello

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bass viol; gamba; viola da gamba

Hypernyms ("bass viol" is a kind of...):

viol (any of a family of bowed stringed instruments that preceded the violin family)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Largest and lowest member of the violin family

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bass fiddle; bass viol; bull fiddle; contrabass; double bass; string bass

Hypernyms ("bass viol" is a kind of...):

bass (the member with the lowest range of a family of musical instruments)

bowed stringed instrument; string (stringed instruments that are played with a bow)

 Context examples 

Lifting his hand to his head, the absent-minded Professor gravely felt and removed the little cocked hat, looked at it a minute, and then threw back his head and laughed like a merry bass viol.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)